A simple project

Stretch

Stretch

Hey! There’s no easy button for a body like this!
One would think installing headers would be a some what simple task given my mechanical ability. As it turns out I'm kinda anal about makeing changes that can't be reversed. Because of that my simple header install turned into a all winter project last year. Here are the pics of my adventure.

header project 1.jpgstock left side.jpgstock right side.jpgstock manifold.jpg
 
Last edited:
As you can see the stock manifolds are quite restrictive. There also apperes to be some room for improvment in the mixture. The big problem I ran into was the car is a column shift auto. The shift linkage is pretty much where the left side colector wants to be.

left right pipes.jpgpipe and linkage.jpgno room.jpgcomited.jpg

Now I'm committed!
 
I really need to clean the engine up. Good time to adjust the steering gear too.

lots of room need to clean 1.jpgdaddys a monster.jpgleft side in.jpgleft side center link.jpg
 
Time for a mini starter too. It makes putting a starter in so much easier. I see you are also running a nice thermoquad.
 
Now for the fun stuff. I need to re route the trany lines. The picture of the shifter linkage has the stock stuff on top and the pivot I'm going to use on the bottom. I need the stright rod. I cut the leaver off of the stright rod to clock it to the correct position and I "V"ed the lever to make it stright. As I said before I'm not willing to cut up my original parts so I fabed up new stuff. All of the stock parts are in a box.

trany lines gotta move.jpgtrany lines move 2.jpgshifter linkage 1.jpglinkage 2.jpg
 
The first pic is the stock trany pivot bracket. I need the pivot to be about a half inch higher. I used some flat stock and a pivot from a different car to make the new one.

stock bracket.jpgc body bracket.jpgflat stock.jpgshort bracket.jpg
 
The trany pivot done. (Except for paint) I needed to fab the frame pivot aswell. I used the frame pivot from the same car the trany pivot came from.

trany pivot 1.jpgtrany pivot done.jpgstock frame pivot.jpgframe pivot fab 1.jpg
 
Spark plug sleeves, bastard bolts, and gasket leaks on start up! Headers are fun!

bazooka 3.jpgspark plug sleeves.jpgthis bolt sucks.jpgleak.jpg
 
I ended up using Percy's seal 4 good header gaskets. Let me tell you , Percy knows his seals! Simply awesome gaskets!

It took me a lot longer than I had planed but like I said, I'm picky about my car and anal about changing stuff that cant be put back to stock. I spent alot of time making that shifter stuff look stock.

It was all worth it. Wow what a power improvment. I knew it would make a differance but damn! By the seat of my pants it feels like 40 H.P. All in all it was well worth the effort. I enjoyed them all summer for sure. It sounds really good to. It's not loud at all through the repop HEMI mufflers. It has a nice deep rumble at idle and a nice note at full song! It sounds like a car should!
 
i forget is the 67-9 abody shift linkage in the way or not.........atleast your headers dont compromise a ton of ground clearance or go THRU the steering
 
The center link does go through the drivers side headder. Perhaps I didn't post that picture. The Shift linkage and brackets I cut up came from my buddy Tom. All I know about them is they came from one of the many demo cars he has built over the years.

I thought about the mini starter when I was doing this but there was room for the stock starter, mine is only a year or two old and the mini starters just dont have the mopar sound. I like the sound of the gear reduction starter.
 
Last edited:
I love the sound of the original starters as well. The mini-starters are gear-reduction as well, for the record, they just start the engine more quickly since they turn it so much more quickly. I remember in my buddy's '74 Cuda, if the engine didn't catch, you had to wait like 25 seconds to let the starter wind back down and stop. It was a very well-worn original. :D

When I did the 440 installation in the Black Bitch, the original-style starter died. It was a bastard to change with those headers... lift the block, unbolt the headers, etc. I bought a mini starter, and strangely enough, because of the shape difference I had to drop the engine back in place to get it installed. :wtf:
 
the well wonr ones on the slantys are the ones that make themost noise i swear!!!...ive ot some very well worn orignals around and hey do take a while to wind down..ask fishy about the 67 and how many times he used to grind the gear cause he didnt wait long enuf

as for headers and starters..yeah...umm....a body cuda and that huge starter..ugh nightmare!@@@..course IMO unbolting the engine from the trans in an A body is the worst thing on any of the pre 80s mopars
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

SiteLock

SiteLock
Back
Top